Sweden Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Many nationalities can enter Sweden visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period under Schengen visa-exemption rules. Most other passports need a Schengen visa for tourism, business, or family visits. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Sweden visa at a glance
- Government fee
- EUR 90 adult / EUR 45 child 6-12 — passed through at cost, no markup
- Official processing
- 15 calendar days up to 45 days — consulate ETA
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days within a 180-day period
- Visa types
- 2
Do you need a visa for Sweden?
Check the Schengen visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not on the exemption list, you need a visa. Confirm the current requirement with the Swedish consulate/embassy for your country before applying.
Sweden visa types
- Schengen visa
- Tourism, business, family visits — Up to 90 days within a 180-day period
- Transit visa
- Passing through Sweden to a third country — Per the transit rules
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Sweden depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or consulate responsible for your country of residence.
Schengen visa-exempt nationalities can enter Sweden visa-free for short stays under bilateral or Schengen agreements — typically up to 90 days within a 180-day period depending on the agreement.
Visa-required nationalities need a Schengen visa for tourism, business, or family visits.
Transit travelers may need a transit visa depending on nationality and layover conditions.
Documents required for a Sweden visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportSchengen visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed Schengen visa application formSchengen visa · Completed and signed Schengen visa application form.
- Recent passport photoSchengen visa · Recent passport photo.
- Travel itinerary confirming entry and exit from the Schengen areaSchengen visa · Travel itinerary confirming entry and exit from the Schengen area.
- Proof of accommodation for the full staySchengen visa · Proof of accommodation for the full stay.
- Proof of financial meansSchengen visa · minimum EUR 30,000 in medical/travel insurance coverage.
- Travel insurance policy valid in the Schengen areaSchengen visa · Travel insurance policy valid in the Schengen area.
- Proof of employment or student status, if applicableSchengen visa · Proof of employment or student status, if applicable.
- Cover letter explaining the purpose of the visitSchengen visa · Cover letter explaining the purpose of the visit.
- Valid passportTransit visa · 6+ months validity.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit windowTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit window.
- Visa or entry document for the final destination, if requiredTransit visa · Visa or entry document for the final destination, if required.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
Sweden visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- EUR 90 adult / EUR 45 child 6-12 — passed through at cost, no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days within a 180-day period
- Official processing
- 15 calendar days up to 45 days — consulate ETA
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Sweden visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the Schengen visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you're exempt, you don't need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy or Consulate of Sweden for your country. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a Sweden visa above.
Submit your application at the embassy, consulate, or authorized visa center
Pay the government visa fee.
Wait for processing
the official ETA is up to 45 calendar days. Apply at least 15 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Sweden's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the consulate portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Sweden is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or exemption documentation.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
- Proof of travel insurance with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Sweden visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Sweden visa questions, answered.
More for your Sweden trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.